Inference The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

What is inference? What you know + what you read = inference Uses facts, logic, or reasoning to come to an assumption or conclusion Asks: “What conclusions can you draw based on what is happening now?”

What isn’t inference? It is not stating the obvious. It is not stating the ridiculous. It is not a prediction. (Although the two are closely related) Predictions ask: “What is happening next?”

Perfect/Flawed Examples Stating the obvious: “That girl is wearing a fancy dress and carrying a bouquet of flowers.” Stating the ridiculous: “That little girl must be a magician’s assistant and is about to turn the flowers into giant rabbits that will rabidly attack the audience.” Stating inference: “That girl must be a flower girl in a wedding.” Making a prediction: “That girl will walk down the aisle in the wedding and take pictures later.”

Questioning Inference When reading (fiction or nonfiction) ask questions: “What is my inference?” “What information did I use to make the inference?” “How good was my thinking?” “Do I need to change my thinking?”

STOP! It’s Inference Time.

How do you think this man is feeling? How do you know?

Why is this man on the floor? What makes you think so?

Why isn’t this woman using a fork to eat her pie? Why do you think that?

What are 3 things you can tell me about the person these feet belong too?

What do you think is in this person’s backpack? Why do you think so?

What do you think happened here? Why do you think so?

What do you think caused this injury? Why do you think so?